ACE-2 receptor expression on the back of the hand: Implications in the indirect transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2, is the causative agent of COVID-19, a disease that was declared a pandemic by the WHO, at the beginning of 2020. Various authors have pointed out that morbidity and mortality, as well as the economic consequences of a pandemic, are influenced by factors such as the susceptibility of the population to infection, the severity of the disease, transmissibility and routes of transmission. It was of particular interest in this work to focus on the last two aspects, and, more specifically, on indirect transmission through contact with the back of the hand, highlighting the importance of this site during the transmission process of SARS-CoV- 2. The expression, as well as the functionality of the ACE-2 receptors on the back of the hand was demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques, and the implications of these findings in the indirect transmission of the virus were discussed. We conclude that contact with the skin, for example, through the fist salute, contributes to the increase in infections, in such a way that we suggest that this practice be avoided as a protection measure.